Iran cleric urges live broadcast of presidential election debatesShabestan news agency:The live broadcast of the debates among the presidential candidates would be “one of the best ways” to enhance the Iranians’ awareness and help them identify the best hopeful, Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Movahedi Kermani said in an address to worshipers at the weekly Friday prayers in the Iranian capital.

The senior cleric made the remarks after Iran’s Election Campaign Monitoring Committee decided on Thursday to call off the live broadcast of debates and to cover the debates in recorded version instead.

The decision has drawn widespread criticism among Iranian officials and people.

Head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting Abdolali Ali-Askari expressed hope that the committee would understand the nation’s expectations from the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) and make a revision of the decision.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Movahedi Kermani asked for a high turnout in the May 19 election, which he described as “a difficult test.”

“Through its massive turnout in the elections, [the Iranian nation] must prove that the Islamic establishment is strong and enjoys the backing of its people,” the cleric said.